The history of the area stretches
back to the Stone Age. In fact much of the area's current
heritage can be traced to the Celts who arrived from their
central European homeland around 200BC. They gave the area the
basis of Cymraeg, the Welsh language, still widely spoken and the
agrarian economy that has traditionally dominated the area. They
grew plots of cereals and flax and kept sheep and oxen, often
alongside a hillside encampment or Dinas.

In fact at the rear of the Red
Lion public house in llanafan Fawr lies the unexcavated remains
of an Iron Age Village encampment. Large circular walls
surrounded by trenches guarding an inner courtyard are all that
remain of settlement (Powys / SN 967566). On the site of the
current churchyard which is opposite the Red Lion would have been
that section of the site that was devoted to their beliefs and
rituals and which is know dominated by an ancient yew tree . The
tree has been dated as being over two thousand years old aand is
one of the oldest in Wales. Cuttings were taken from it in 1997
to be planted elsewhere to give this venerable tree a new lease
of life.

Circa 500A.D Celtic saints spread
the gospel through western Britain. Where their message took root
they founded simple churches, each within a consecrated
enclosure. This was called a Llan. It often took the saint's
name, hence Llandewi, (Llan-the enclosure of Dewi-David) the old
parish church, said to have been founded by St. David (Dewi),
patron saint of Wales, who died in 589AD. Many churches in the
area date back to this time, 50 years or more before St.
Augustine converted England to Christianity. St Afan who was one
of the few true original Welsh saints, fell in battle and lies
buried in Llanafan church yard. St Afan who was the grandson of
Cynedda Welledig, King of Britain and cousin to St David, died
trying to protect the locals from bands of marauding Vikings in
the fields by Dolyfelin Farm, 1/2 a mile from the pub. A standing
stone marks the spot where he fell. He was laid to rest in
Llanafan church yard which then became a focal point for
pilgrimages. So important a site did it become, that Llanafan
church became one of the six main churches in Wales and now
contains the remains of several Welsh Bishops.

The first mention of the Red Lion
itself was in 1188, when a travelling monk, Geraldus Cambrensis,
or Gerald of Wales, whilst recruiting for King Richard The Lion
heart's crusades, travelled to Llanafan to pay respect to St
Afan's remains. Whilst at Llanafan he recorded he stayed at the
inn at Llanafan. Gerald also recounted a story of a hunter in the
reign of Henry 1, The Hunter, one of the Lords of Radnor
thoughtlessly slept overnight in the church with his pack of
hounds and was struck blind for his desicretion and his hounds
turned mad. The hunter lived for many years in this state, but
upon making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem he was restored to sight;
whereupon he went into the holy wars, and in battle with the
enemies of the Christian faith, he spurred his horse and rushed
boldly into their thickest ranks, thus honourably concluding his
life.

The current Red Lion dates from
about this period, although the original timbers clearly visible
in the current building date back before this as they would have
been used as ship's timbers previously. The great oak forests of
the area were felled and the timbers transported to the ship
yards for new ships. On the return journey the wagons would bring
back the old timbers to the area where they would be used for
house building. The huge cruck frame timbers of the current
building would be just such recycled timber, indeed many old
joints, from the timber's original employment are clearly
visible.

The original building would have
been single story, which explains the low ceilings. The upstairs
was added in the 17th Century. The stone walls also would have
been a latter addition, as the original walls would have been mud
and plaster. The pub is unique in that it has remained
unmodernised, mainly because it has been in the same family for
over 350 years who ran and still do run the surrounding farm. The
pub itself was little more than a sideline with the farm being
the main business and so the great majority of the building was
the working farm, with just an open cellar and small snug being
given over to the pub.

St Afan's was rebuilt in 1887 as a
single-chambered nave and chancel with a West Tower. Beside the
new carved font is a small 13th century one. In the sanctuary
there is a pillar stone with a circled cross of the 7th to 9th
centuries. The Church registers date from 1720, but there are
later gaps, full details can be found at the GENUKI site. Today, the church and it's yard still hold secrets
including a unique gravestone noting the demise of John Price who
was murdered on April 21st 1826, over sheep rights on The Darren
hill just behind the pub. The gravestone not only states he was
murdered but also names the murderer, an R. Lewis. Relatives of
both families still live in Llanafan!

The church is located is alongside the B4358
road which runs between Newbridge and Beulah, 4 miles from both.
It has the OS Grid Reference SN969557